Irish signs threat to Britishness in Rasharkin
A DUP councillor from Rasharkin has launched a blistering attack on a bid to bring Irish street name plates to the village and other areas of Ballymoney Borough.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of Ballymoney Borough Council, where the Irish language bilingual signs bid dramatically failed, Councillor Wilson said he wanted to publicly state his objections.
Glebe Park in Rasharkin is one of the places wanting bilingual signs featuring English and Irish but Councillor Wilson said if the signs ever come to be in place it will "take away all Britishness out of the village".
He said the Protestant community in Rahsarkin "have been discriminated against by sectarian hatred" in recent times and referring to the flying of the Irish Tricolour in the village said there were displays of flags and emblems "which don't belong to the country".
Councillor Wilson was joined by DUP mayor John Finlay and two Independent Unionists, Bill Kennedy and Audrey Patterson, in voting against the Irish language signs.
Four nationalist councillors including Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay and Anita Cavlan and the SDLP's Harry Connolly and Malachy McCamphill voted in favour of the signs.
Several other councillors present abstained from the vote which left the situation dramatically locked at 4-4 and Mayor Finlay had the option to use his casting vote but opted not to.
The mayor wondered if the matter then should be returned to the Committee but Council Chief Executive John Dempsey said the matter now "falls" and as such the Irish Language bid failed.
After the meeting, Councillor McKay said the Council's failure to back Irish language signs now leaves the door open for a potential legal by a householder.
As well as Glebe Park in Rasharkin, a majority of residents in Dunloy's Bellaghy Park and Scally Park, Loughgiel, want bilingual street nameplates.
Conscious of the potential for legal action, during the meeting Councillor McKay asked for a recorded vote and it ended 4-4. Sinn Fein councillor Philip McGuigan had been present but left early from Monday night's meeting.
According to Councillor McKay his party colleague had another engagement to attend.
When the matter had been discussed at a committee meeting last month council minutes show that Mayor Finlay said that having looked at the responses to the questionnaire issued by the Council to ascertain the view of residents, he believed that there was "no great appetite" for bilingual signage at the locations under consideration and that the issue seemed to be "politically motivated".
The minutes said: "Speaking on behalf of his party grouping he stated that whilst not being in favour, it was nonetheless necessary to implement Council policy, as required by law."
At the Committee meeting Councillor Patterson and the Mayor asked for their opposition to the signs to be officially recorded.
It now remains to be seen if there will be a legal challenge and whether there is any potential for councillors who voted against the move to be surcharged.
And it is possible that a new bid for Irish signs will come from residents.
nevin.farrell@jpress.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Ballymoney
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
